Digital promise features prototypes of games and simulations to train today's workforce

Research Briefing and Demonstration illustrate effectiveness of new technologies and the need for federal leadership

WASHINGTON, DC – The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) will present the latest research-based uses of advanced digital technologies for teaching, workforce training and lifelong learning on Wednesday, 14 June 2006, from 10:30 – 12:30 in room H-C5 of the U.S. Capitol at an event sponsored by the New America Foundation in cooperation with Congressman Ralph Regula (R-OH).

The demonstration of three sophisticated games will be showcased as part of House "Innovation Week."

As video games become a common part of childhood, FAS is looking for ways to produce complex games that provide an environment for learning about history, problem-solving, and managing systems. Games and 3-D interactive simulations will revolutionize education, the way it has done to the entertainment industry. Digital Promise identifies steps that the federal government, industry and the education community need to take to develop and commercialize educational games to help our students and workers learn globally competitive skills in demand by employers.

Discover Babylon – a cultural game that incorporates artifacts from exhibits at the Walters Museum of Art in Baltimore, MD, and transports the player to a virtual reality of ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq).

Multi Casualty Incident Responder – a high-stress, real-time training simulation for firefighters to serve as a national model for first-responder training.

Also speaking at the briefing are:

Henry Kelly, President, Federation of American Scientists

Marland Buckner, Microsoft

Walter Cheek, BreakAway Games

Dexter Fletcher, the Institute of Defense Analyses

The speakers will present the latest research findings on the effectiveness of advanced technologies in meeting America's pressing education and training needs. Corporate leaders will remark on the corporate sector's need for higher skill sets in employees and the need for greater federal investment, coordination and integration in this critical area.

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The Digital Opportunity Investment Trust (DO IT) legislation enhances American competitiveness and economic leadership in the 21st Century. The DO IT bills, S.1023 (Dodd, Snowe, Durbin and Burns), and HR.2512 (Regula, Markey, Gillmor, Holt, Wolf, Boucher and others), would increase federal leadership and investment in advanced learning technologies by creating a central entity for pure R&D, and the digitization of educational content and prototype development.

(Metro Stops = Union Station on the red line or Capitol South on the blue/orange line)

NOTE TO REPORTERS: Space is limited. To RSVP for this event, contact Monica Amarelo at [email protected] or (202) 454-4680. Please include your name, title, and media affiliation in your response.

The Federation of American Scientists (,a href="http://www.fas.org">www.fas.org) was formed in 1945 by atomic scientists from the Manhattan Project. Endorsed by nearly 60 Nobel Laureates in biology, chemistry, economics, medicine and physics as sponsors, the Federation has addressed a broad spectrum of national security issues in carrying out its mission to promote humanitarian uses of science and technology. Today, the FAS Information Technologies Project works on strategies to harness the potential of emerging information technologies to improve how we teach and learn.

Last reviewed:
By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on
30 Apr 2016
Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.